Collective graveemorial 5 deceased Belgian Soldiers General Cemetery Maastricht

Buried in this collective tomb are 5 Belgian soldiers who died in Maastricht in World War I. During the capture of the city of Liège by the Germans, the Belgian regiments in and around the city of Liège fell apart. Countless Belgian soldiers tried to escape trough the Netherlands to rejoin the Belgian forces later.

Because the Netherlands maintained strict neutrality, all soldiers (Germans and Belgians) who crossed the border were interned until the end of the war.

Remarkably, only 4 soldiers are mentioned on the monument itself. The 5th soldier is buried there but is not mentioned. Why remains unclear.

The names are on the side of the monument;

CARDYNAELS Henri, age 34, from Visé, corporal in the 11th Line Regiment, died from the effects of the Spanish flu on November 2nd, 1918. Unfortunately, he was never able to witness the victory of Belgium during the four years he spent interned and unable to defend his homeland. He was from the vilage of Visé and is commemorated there on the "monument aux morts" at Visé.

MAURISSEN Hubert, age 32, from Hees, soldier in the 14th Line Regiment, interned at Maastricht, died at Maastricht on November 15, 1918 (3 days after the armistice) from pneumonia (probably from the Spanish flu).

NÉE Augustin, age 27, from Warquignies, soldier in the artillery at Fort Stabroek, had been interned at Oldebroek (Gelderland) since October 10th, 1914 died on May 1, 1917 as a result of suicide by drowning.

NIVELLE Noël, age 35, from Horion-Hozémont, soldier with the 14th line regiment, interned at Maastricht, died from the effects of illness (probably Spanish flu) on June 16th, 1918 at the hospital Calvariënberg, Maastricht.

The 5th soldier buried there, but not listed on the monument would be private JOESOFOVITCH Jan. No further details about him are known.

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Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• -https://bel-memorial.org
• -www.wardeadregister.be
• -www.dodenakkers.nl/limburg/maastricht-gemeentelijke-begraafplaats-tongerseweg.html
• LEEUWEN, M. VAN & STAARMAN, A., Tastbare Herinneringen 1914-1918, Western Front Association Nederland, 2008.